Chapter 43

“I just… thought you wouldn’t be a bad fiancé either.”

“Why’s that?”

“…Because you work hard at swordsmanship. I like people who are diligent in their work.”

It was a plausible excuse for something made up on the spot. Fortunately, Chase seemed to believe it readily.

However, Chase paused for a moment at Judith’s words and then muttered softly.

“…Really? That’s just like me.”

* * *

Lately, Cedric had been living such a diligent life that it was hard to believe how well-behaved he had become.

He had to make sure he met the graduation credits safely by the end of this year.

As a result, unlike his usual lazy self, he attended all his classes without missing any, completed his assignments diligently, and was busy with a packed schedule every day.

Not only that, but he also attended remedial classes in his spare time to keep an eye on Judith for his friend Axel.

He raised his head and watched Judith, who was diligently writing formulas on the blackboard.

Her claim to stay away from Axel didn’t seem to be a lie, as he kept a close watch on Judith, but no connection formed between them.

Instead, rumors spread throughout the academy that the two of them had fought.

Anyway, at this rate, the two of them would drift apart smoothly, and once he graduated, he wouldn’t have to face Judith anymore.

-That was what he thought and felt relieved just a few days ago.

Cedric blinked blankly, staring at the person in front of him.

“It seems you were right.”

“About what?”

“That if my family finds out I’m being swayed because of Judith, it would cause trouble for her.”

It was what Axel had said as soon as he returned from his family and called Cedric out.

Cedric didn’t understand and couldn’t say a word as Axel let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“Look at this.”

He soon pulled out a bundle of white letters from his pocket and handed them to Cedric.

“They’re all letters my mother sent to Judith.”

Cedric took the letters with a puzzled expression. Axel nodded, indicating he could read them.

Cedric lowered his gaze and began to slowly examine the letters he received.

The contents were lengthy, but the gist was roughly this:

[If you truly care for Axel, why not distance yourself and get engaged to the person I arranged for you?]

It was easy to guess why Madame Fedelian sent such letters to Judith.

Both of them were still attending the academy, so as fellow students, the restrictions of status were less, but once they graduated, the situation would change drastically.

By then, there would be various rumors in society about Axel and Judith being together, and the fact that they were childhood friends would no longer serve as an excuse.

Some conservative nobles would frown and think poorly of them.

As Cedric raised his head, indicating he had finished reading, Axel gave him a faint smile and said.

“…Do you understand? Judith was trying to distance herself from me because of my mother’s orders and ended up in an unwanted engagement with Chase Cardandy.”

Having said that, Axel sighed deeply as if frustrated.

“If only she had told me once, it would have been better, but to think she kept this fact hidden all along. Was Judith not confident in me?”

“…”

“I can’t imagine how much Judith must have suffered alone. I regret not realizing it sooner.”

Axel said, closing his eyes tightly as if truly distressed.

But even then, Cedric was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t come up with a proper response.

It was only after a while that he finally gathered himself and spoke.

“…So? What does that matter?”

“Now that I know, I have to correct the wrongs—”

“What?”

It was indeed a surprising revelation that Axel found out Judith was forced into an engagement. But what difference would it make?

Cedric, calming himself with a deep breath, spoke soothingly.

“…Even if your mother pressured Judith into the engagement, ultimately, it was Judith’s decision to go through with it. What are you planning to correct?”

“But you can’t consider a decision made under pressure solely as one’s own will.”

“Ha, what are you talking about, Axel? Don’t you realize it’s all over now?”

Cedric held his head as if he had a headache. Axel, thinking Cedric’s reaction was sharper than expected, asked with a serious expression.

“What do you mean?”

“Even if you don’t worry about it, Judith is happily living her life now.”

“…”

“Whether she was forced into the engagement or not, what does it matter now? Judith is probably very satisfied being engaged to Chase.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Axel’s voice lowered slightly. Cedric decided to use this opportunity to sever Axel’s feelings for Judith completely.

Even if it meant exaggerating.

“You know I’m participating in the accounting remedial class, right? There, Judith and Chase stick together every day, to the point where it’s almost sickening.”

In reality, Judith treated all students equally in the remedial class, and nothing of the sort happened, but Cedric shamelessly fabricated the truth.

Axel’s eyes wavered with confusion.

“…Are you saying Judith likes Chase?”

“Well, I’m not Judith, so I can’t say for sure. But if they’re that close in public, it’s obvious how they are in private, isn’t it?”

Cedric paused for a moment before continuing in a different tone, as if to soothe him.

“So forget about Judith. She’s happy without you now, so why interfere? Isn’t that right?”

“…”

“If you truly consider Judith a friend, it’s better to wish for their happiness. That’s what Judith would want too.”

Of course, the possibility of Judith being happy without Axel was significantly low. Cedric had confirmed in a prior conversation with Judith that she still had feelings for Axel.

But he lied with a straight face, worried that Axel might feel a great sense of guilt over Judith being forced into an engagement because of him.

He feared that Madame Fedelian’s carefully laid plans might collapse all at once.

Axel’s expression darkened immediately.

Why does he look like that?

Cedric thought Axel’s guilt would dissipate if he told him it was a good thing for Judith, but his expression only hardened further.

Axel muttered incredulously.

“Judith really likes Chase? Then… does that mean they’ll get married someday?”

He kept repeating the same words, as if he was shocked by the obvious fact.

Seeing this, Cedric couldn’t help but ask.

“Why are you reacting like that?”

“What kind of reaction am I having?”

“You look like you’re about to collapse.”

Only then did Axel compose his shaken expression.

To be honest, Cedric couldn’t understand Axel.

Moreover, his overly sensitive reactions to Judith seemed to point to something unthinkable, making him increasingly uneasy.

Normally, Axel wouldn’t even consider reading Madame Fedelian’s letters.

Reading someone else’s letters secretly was against etiquette. Axel, who valued etiquette, wouldn’t do such a thing.

What on earth is Axel thinking? Or could it be that he actually—?

Cedric shook his head to dismiss the continuing thought and spoke again.

“Be honest. What do you really want to do? What are you dissatisfied with?”

“I…”

After hesitating, Axel spoke in a damp voice.

“I wish Judith would stay by my side. Just like she has until now, and in the future too.”

It was a strange thing to say. That pink-haired girl wasn’t some kind of cherished doll.

Cedric let out a small laugh.

“Is it because you’re bored without Judith? Or is it stubbornness, thinking, ‘How dare Judith leave me’?”

“…”

“Or do you think of Judith as your possession?”

“Of course not. It just means that Judith is that precious to me. I can’t even imagine being apart from her.”

Although Axel tried to wrap his feelings in words, Cedric just laughed dismissively.

If someone is precious, isn’t it basic to respect their wishes?

What Axel was doing now was completely ignoring Judith’s wishes under the guise of doing it for her.

He was acting entirely according to his own desires.

Where did the considerate and mature Axel go?

Cedric crossed his arms and asked one last time to persuade him.

“Let’s say you keep Judith by your side. What about your reputation? It will plummet immediately. Won’t the nobles gossip if they find out you’re associating with a commoner woman after graduating from the academy?”

“I don’t care.”

“Well, of course, there won’t be anyone bold enough to say such things to your face. But it’s different for Judith. She’ll be surrounded by all sorts of gossip.”

“I don’t care about that either.”

Axel, who answered without hesitation, soon put on a painted smile and said.

“Once I make an example of a few, it’ll quiet down on its own.”